The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-04-11

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Poland Mourns after Plane Crash

Sorrow and mourning has prevailed in Poland after a plane crash that claimed 96 lives. Among the dead were Polish President Lech Kaczynski, military chiefs and MPs, who were due to attend a memorial for a World War II massacre in Russia. Polish media have termed the crash as the worst tragedy in the country's post war history. Experts from Russia and Poland are investigating the plane's black boxes. The remains of the Polish President were transferred to Poland and will lie in state for a week. A Polish parliament spokesman said elections will be called within two weeks.

Technical Failure Ruled Out

Russian experts said there were no technical problems with the plane at the time of the accident.

Citing the head of the investigators, Interfax news agency said that the plane was in excellent condition.

The Russian investigator also claimed that the plane's crash did not mention any technical problems in his contacts with the air traffic controllers.

Interfax also reported that the pilot ignored pleas from air traffic controllers to divert to another airport because of fog

National Mourning

The body of Polish President Lech Kaczynski arrived back in Warsaw a day after the crash. His family, his daughter and twin brother Jaroslaw Kaczynski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk were among the dignitaries to receive Mr Kaczynski's coffin at a military airport in Warsaw.

After a brief ceremony held at the airport, the coffin was taken to the presidential mansion where it will lie in state for a week.

The body of his wide, who was also killed in the plane crashed, has not yet been recognized, and that is why it was transferred to Warsaw, said the Polish authorities. News item: 35301

[02] Greek PM in Cyprus

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou arrived Sunday in Nicosia, Cyprus. He will meet with the board of the Andreas Papandreou Foundation. On Monday morning, he will hold talks with Cypriot President Demetris Christofias at the presidential mansion.

During his stay in Cyprus, the Greek head of government will hold talks with the Cypriot President and the island's political leaders. President Christofias will then host a dinner in honour of George Papandreou.

George Papandreou will be wrapped up his contacts in Cyprus with a meeting with Cypriot Archbishop Chrysostomos.

Statements by Stefanos Stefanou

"Greece is our key ally in the struggle to resolve the Cyprus row," commented Cypriot government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou.

Touching on the Greek Premier's visit to Nicosia, Stefanou argued, "There has always been close cooperation with Greece and it should go on." News item: 35300

[03] Kyrgyz Interim Government Considers Arresting Bakiyev

Kyrgyzstan's interim government is considering arresting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and putting him on trial for the killings of 81 people, who were killed during the clashes with the government forces, said leader of the country's self-proclaimed interim government Roza Otunbayeva. The deposed Kyrgyz President told Reuters he would not step down and that any attempt against him would cause massacre in the country.

The interim government of Kyrgyzstan could resort to violence against the ousted president, if he tries to cause further unrest in the country, commented the vice president of the interim government.

"What he did calls for a serious trial. We don't support using force. The arrest warrant for his relatives and accomplices has already been issued," Roza Otunbayeva said.

"To be honest we can hardly restrain those who are ready to rush there (Bakiyev's stronghold) with rifles," she said.

Source: ANA/MPA, Reuters News item: 35299

[04] Details of Financial Rescue Finalized

The Finance Ministers of the 16 countries sharing the European single currency agreed on the final details of a financial safety net to save Greece from the risk of default. Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who chaired the video conference, said the loan would be 30 billion euros in first year. He then stressed that this would be combined money from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, further adding that it would be activated if Greece asked for aid.

"The Support Mechanism Isn't Key Choice"

Papandreou added that the support mechanism will be used only if the markets are not convinced.

Referring to the measures meaning to combat tax evasion, the Greek Premier stressed that they are the toughest ever taken by a government and made it clear that permanent working status in the public sector will not be affected.

"The support mechanism is a really important safety net. Creating it and determining its terms were rather crucial, but we hope and believe that Greece will not have to resort to it," commented Finance Minister Giorgos Papakonstantinou in his interview with Real News paper. He then went on to stress that no new measures will be taken provided the existing program is fully implemented.

Source: NET, NET 105.8 News item: 35296

[05] Greek Police Close to Break up Guerrilla Group

New facts have been added up in Greece's fight against terrorism. The anti-terrorism squad seized another six people allegedly involved in the Greek guerrilla group called Revolutionary Army. Earlier, six people had been taken in for questioning. The anti-terrorism squad raided houses in several Athenian districts, where they came up with important evidence, including a hard disc with proclamations and maps of possible future targets.

The Names of the Arrestees

Police spokesman Thanassis Kokalakis the six arrestees who will be referred to the prosecutor for their involvement in the Revolutionary Army group are Nikos Maziotis, 39, his partner Panagiota Roupa, 41, Evangelos Stathopoulos, 32, Christoforos Kortessis, 31, Sarantis Nikitopoulos, 32, and Konstantinos Gournas, 30.

Interrelated Groups

According to information, six of the seven people taken in for questioning have already been arrested.

Police said that those arrested are known to the authorities and are believed to be involved not only in the guerrilla group Revolutionary Army but also in other guerilla groups which have mounted attacks using improvised explosive devices.

The above clue has come to yet again confirm the theory whereby there are interrelated groups in terrorism.

Among the people who will be referred to the prosecutor is Labros Fountas' accomplice, who had managed to escape the deadly clashes with police.

The police raid had been originally scheduled to take place in late April. However, information whereby members of the Revolutionary Army were plotting a deadly hit in central Athens, forced police to act sooner.

Source: NET, NET 105.8, ANA/MPA News item: 35297

[06] 10yo Boy Killed in Racing Accident

A minor aged 10 was killed while watching car racing along with his father and his brother in Polydendri, when a car taking part in the race lost control and hit them.

According to information, the car that caused the accident was not a racing one and his driver was an amateur taking part in a racing festival.

The inexperience of someone driving a really fast car proved fatal, since the driver lost control and hit the protective tyres which couldn't hold the car.

However, the father with his two sons are said to have been in an unsafe place. News item: 35294

[07] Greek Opposition Leader Blasts the Government

Addressing a sitting of his party's Central Committee, main opposition New Democracy head Antonis Samaras blasted the Prime Minister for his economic approach which led to exorbitant interest rates. The ND President blamed the government for inability and arrogance and warned that the activation of the EU-brokered support mechanism could result in additional tougher measures. Samaras also sent a message to his party rivals, arguing that personal strategies are enemies of the party.

Leading ND deputy Dora Bakoyiannis was absent from the sitting, while former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis walked out after Samaras' speech.

"Greece cannot take additional measures. Neither the society, nor economy and that is probably why we have come up against such developments. We say no to harsher measures and we oppose to those measures that nurture the vicious cycle of recession."

Antonis Samaras

Lambasting the government, Antonis Samaras said, "Never before has a government managed to make so many mistakes in such a short period of time and with such immediate and painful results." He then went claiming, "It has been proved that PASOK had no other plan but to deliver a blow to ND," and accused the ruling party of inability, arrogance and inconsistency.

The ND head stressed that Greece is living through its worst crisis ever, one that was turned into a borrowing crisis. "Up until October, Greece had been suffering a deficit crisis. However, over the past months it is the only eurozone member experiencing a borrowing crisis. It is the weakest part of the eurozone. Last year, under the ND rule, Greece's economy was put to a test but it was not brought down on its knees despite the mistakes made," said Samaras.

Shifting his attention to the party's course, he underlined, "There were many who betted it would take us a long time before getting back on track following the latest developments. Now more and more people have started believing in us."

Touching on the tax bill which will be submitted to Parliament on coming Tuesday, Antonis Samaras argued, "We will explain why we have rejected the tax bill. Because it will strangle economy even more, as it fails to effectively curtail deficits, it pushes capitals away, it does not stamp out tax evasion, it kills entrepreneurism, it crashes the middle class without restoring social justice."

News item: 35293

[08] Clashes Leave 19 Dead in Thailand

Anti-government demonstrators and Thai troops battled in the streets of Bangkok on Saturday, leaving 19 people dead and more than 650 wounded.

Among the dead are four army officers and a Japanese cameramen working for Reuters.

The death toll is much higher than that in the wake of the 1996 clashes in Thailand.

The Thai government said it appointed an envoy to hold talks with the leaders of the opposition movement.

The demonstrators had erected dozens of barricades in several areas throughout the capital city. Several of them were armed, journalists said.

After several anti-government demonstrations, which were mostly peaceful, authorities in Thailand declared Bangkok in a state of emergency on 7 April when demonstrators stormed the Parliament building.

The international community has called for restraint. The White House denounced the political unrest in Thailand and called on both sides to hold talks to resolve the problems in a peaceful manner.

Source: ANA/MPA News item: 35290

[09] Avalanche Kills Ten Snowboarders in Russia

Ten snowboarders were killed when the helicopter carrying them to a ski slope in Russia's Kamchatka region was hit by an avalanche.

The spokesman of Russia's Emergency Minister said the helicopter, which was carrying 18 snowboarders including tourists from Germany and Belgium, had landed on a ski slope in Kamchatka.

As of now we think 10 people died," Irina Andrianova, spokesperson for Russia's Emergency Ministry, said. "Two Russians and four Germans are still under the snow. There is practically no chance they have survived as the temperature is minus 20 degrees Celsius and the thickness of the snow is 10-15 meters," she added

Source: ANA/MPA News item: 35289

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article